LATEST CLINICAL ARTICLE

People with learning disabilities still face inequalities in access to health services. This article, which comes with a handout for a journal club discussion, sums up what nurses can do to reduce these inequalities

CLINICAL FOCUS

People with learning disabilities still face inequalities in access to health services. This article, which comes with a handout for a journal club discussion, sums up what nurses can do to reduce these inequalities

Community nurses delivering new integrated care model

A new integrated approach to delivering health and social care in South Tyneside is proving a hit with both patients and experienced nurses, according to the organisations behind the scheme.

Neighbourhood teams of district nurses, community matrons, social workers and therapists have been set up in Hebburn and Jarrow.

One nurse acts as a care co-ordinator for each patient and the teams work closely with local GP surgeries.

The idea behind the new approach is to enable more people to stay in their own home.

Maria Purdy, who has been a district nurse for 27 years, said: “I’ve never worked in such an integrated way before. We are able to serve the local community so much more effectively.

“The improvements that I have seen on the ground are really phenomenal,” she said. “We are able to care for people and make referrals far more quickly and care for people in their own home, if that is their wish, which is important for the health service, but also incredibly important for the patient.”

“I’ve worked in district nursing for 27 years but I’ve never worked in such an integrated way before”

Maria Purdy

The integrated teams have been established by South Tyneside Council, NHS South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group, South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust and local voluntary organisations.

Councillor Mary Butler, lead member for Adult Social Care and Support Services, said: “By having just one contact who is able to organise care from a number of sources, we are succeeding in helping… at a time when care and advice needs to be swift and appropriate.”

Dr Matthew Walmsley, chair of NHS South Tyneside CCG, said: “Feedback from patients so far has been overwhelmingly positive.”

The team has been praised by Nicola Bamling, a carer for her 59-year-old mother who has multiple sclerosis and has lived independently in her own home.

She was admitted earlier this year with a urinary tract infection and when she came home was unable to care for herself or be left alone.

Ms Bamling said: “I called the district nurse who has been seeing my mum on a weekly basis for years and she sorted everything out. I only had to make one phone call.”

Social workers gave the family immediate advice on how to find a carer while occupational therapists investigated ways that mobile technology could be used to enhance independence.

Nurse shortages that in some cases meant staffing numbers fell below safe levels were found at South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust by the hospital regulator, which said the organisation “requires improvement” overall.

Community hospitals across the country are to be closely scrutinised, as part of a major piece of research into how factors such as staffing ratios and nurse-led wards contribute to efficient services, Nursing Times has learnt.

Have your say

Please remember that the submission of any material is governed by our Terms and Conditions and by submitting material you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions. Links may be included in your comments but HTML is not permitted.

Unlimited access to Nursing Times...

...gives you the confidence to be the best nurse you can be. Our online learning units, clinical practice articles, news and opinion stories, helps you increase your skills and knowledge and improves your practice.